Piper PA31
Buckland, AK — April 18, 2020
Event Information
| Date | April 18, 2020 |
| Event Type | ACC |
| NTSB Number | ANC20CA044 |
| Event ID | 20200505X81213 |
| Location | Buckland, AK |
| Country | USA |
| Coordinates | 65.90778, -161.92639 |
| Airport | Candle 2 |
| Highest Injury | NONE |
Aircraft
| Make | Piper |
| Model | PA31 |
| Category | AIR |
| FAR Part | 091 |
| Aircraft Damage | SUBS |
Conditions
| Light Condition | DAYL |
| Weather | VMC |
Injuries
| Fatal | 0 |
| Serious | 0 |
| Minor | 0 |
| None | 1 |
| Total Injured | 0 |
Event Location
Probable Cause
The pilot's failure to extend the landing gear before landing due to distraction by the condition of the runway and his failure to use the Before Landing checklist.
Full Narrative
According to the pilot, due to weather in the local area, he elected to conduct a straight in landing approach, rather than overfly the runway. After slowing the airplane's airspeed, he selected flaps down to 15°, landing gear down, followed by full flaps. The pilot stated that he was distracted by standing water on the runway, and he failed to confirm the landing gear was in the down and locked position. After landing, and realizing that the landing gear was not extended, he checked the landing gear handle which was in the down neutral position with no landing gear indicator lights illuminated. The pilot surmised that upon selection of the landing gear handle on the approach, he must have failed to place the landing gear handle in the full down position.
The pilot stated there were no preaccident mechanical malfunctions or anomalies that would have precluded normal operation.
In the recommendation section of the NTSB Accident/Incident Reporting Form 6120.1, the pilot stated that the accident may have been prevented if he had followed the airplane's checklist and not allowed the distractions and deviation from routine to alter his normal procedures.
About This NTSB Record
This aviation event was investigated by the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB). NTSB investigates all U.S. civil aviation accidents to determine probable cause and issue safety recommendations to prevent future accidents.